Marking of webs of paper, card or the like or sheets cut from such webs



NUV. 2%, 1955 J. E. BATTERSBY fi fi MARKING OF WEBS OFPAP-ER, CARD OR THE LIKE OR SHEETS CUT FROM SUCH WEBS Filed Sept. 18, 1952 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 29, 1955 J. E. BATTERSBY MARKING OF WEBS OF PAPER, CARD OR THE LIKE OR SHEETS CUT FROM SUCH WEBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 United States Patent MARKING OF WEBS OF PAPER, CARD OR THE LIKE 0R SHEETS CUT FROM SUCH WEBS James Eckersley Battersby, London, England, assignor to Masson Scott 8: Company Limited, London, England Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,296 8 Claims. (Cl. 9393) This invention relates to the marking of webs of .paper, card or the like or sheets cut from such webs in order to provide a mark on the edge of a sheet in a predetermined number thereof so that reams or other desired numbers of the stacked or collected sheets may be readily distinguished. It is usual to insert markers, which are generally in the form of strips of coloured paper, between the sheets so that the markers protrude beyond the margins of the sheets when stacked, the insertion of the markers being efiected automatically under the control of means for counting the cut sheets. in practice it has not hitherto been found possible to operate such marker inserting mechanisms at a sheet cutting speed of much over about 150 cuts per :minute. Also the markers are liable to be displaced from the sheets, and mechanisms which insert loose markers between the sheets tend to disturb the smooth operation of the sheet cutting and laying mechanisms. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide improved means for marking the sheets which whilst being effective for the purpose in view is capable of operation at considerably higher speeds than hitherto. A further object is to provide improved marking means which are of simpler construction than those hitherto employed, thereby reducing cost and improving reliability of operation.-

The invention comprises apparatus for providing a mark on the edge of a sheet in a predetermined number of sheets cut from webs by cross cutting mechanism to facilitate separation of the sheets into counted batches, having a spray device or gun supplied with ink or other suitable pigment and means for controlling the operation of said device or gun in accordance with a predetermined number of sheets cut or delivered to apply a mark to a cut sheet or to the web which is subsequently cut to form the sheet so that the mark is appropriately positioned at the edge of the cut sheet.

Control of the spray device or gun is preferably effected by electrical counting means which may be actuated by the rotary or other cutting device which severs the sheets, the arrangement being such that after the number of sheets constituting a ream or other desired number has been counted, the marking means is actuated.

According to a further feature of the invention, Where a web is slit longitudinally before the sheets are severed therefrom, the mark is applied along the line or lines of longitudinal slitting, either before or after such slitting is eifected, so that the-mark is divided between two sheets.

In a preferred arrangement, one or more spray guns suitably positioned are actuated by electro-magnetic or solenoid means controlled by a sheet counting device, preferably an electrically operated counter.

It is preferred that the mark should be located .centrally between the transverse cuts, the length of the mark being controlled by the contact making device by which the electro-magnetic means is energised, the duration and timing of which is adjustable.

According to a further feature of the invention, means is provided for removing or absorbing surplus ink or pigment and such means may conveniently be electrically controlled.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a sheet ICC cutting and sheet laying apparatus indicating the application thereto of a marking device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 -is a plan view of the arrangement;

Figure 3 is an elevation in diagrammatic form of va sheet cutting mechanism provided with marking means constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 show diagrammatically the ink marks applied to a web and'to sheets cut therefrom respectively.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, as applied by Way of example to a rotary cross cut-ting apparatus in which a paper or like web is drawn from one or more rolls of paper and is divided into two or more webs of lesser width by slitter knives, a device for applying an ink or like mark upon the webs is arranged to act thereon before the sheets have been severed by the rotary cross cutting knife and preferably before the longitudinal slitting operation has been effected. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a web is drawn from a supply roll 1 by feed rolls 2 and 3 and is fed to a rotary cross cutting knife arrangement indicated at 4. The cut sheets are received by a travelling conveyor belt arrangement 5 and are delivered thereby to a stack 6. Slitter 'knives7 located between the supply roll 1 and the feed rolls 2, 3 are arranged to divide the Web longitudinally into two parallel webs. The above arrangements are those generally employed in the art. In accordance with the usual practice, additional slitter knives 7a are provided for trimming the outer edges of the webs. The marking means comprises a spray gun, the position of which is indicated at 8, containing aniline ink and located beneath the web and between the supply roll land the slittingknives 7.

Referring to Figure 3, a rotary cross cutting knife shown at 9 coacts with a fixed knife 10, the path of the web being indicated at 11. A cam 12 on the shaft of the rotary knife 9 periodicallyoperates a contact bridge piece 13 to closecontacts 14 and open contacts 15. Contacts 14 are connected through a junction box 16 to an electrically operated counter 17 which maybe of the .kind described in patent specification No. 2,570,306 for example. Electrical SUPPIY connections are shown at 18. The arrangement is such that on completion of the desired number of closures of the contacts 14, equivalent to the number of sheets in a ream for example, a relay 17a in the counter is closed to cause current to be supplied to a circuit 19, 20 and thence by way of bus bars 22, 40 to the coil of a wiper device 37 to be later described. This device will therefore be energised during the period of closure of the relay 17a which is for one revolution of the rotary knife '9.

A solenoid coil 23 is connected by lines .24, 25 to bus bars 21 and 22. Thesebus bars are also connected to the electrical supply connections '18 through the relay 17a but with the additional interposition of the contacts 15. These contacts 15 are closed for a portion only of one complete revolution of the rotary knife 9 and this portion can 'be varied by varying the contour of the cam 12. The movable armature of the solenoid is arranged to actuate a pivoted lever 26 of a pneumatic spray gun having a nozzle controlled by a needle valve 27, and an air valve (not shown) having an actuating member 28 also operated by the lever 26. The-spray gun is of a well known kind such as are employed for spraying paint or ink. Compressed air is supplied by a pipe 29 and aniline ink is contained in a vessel 30. A'shroud or cover 31 having an aperture 32 in its upper fiat top is provided to concentrate the atomised ink and to prevent its dispersion. As shown, the spray gun ismounted ahead of the longitudinal slitting knives 7 and beneath the web 11. Provision is made for adjusting the gun transversely beneath the web so that an ink mark can be sprayed in such a position that it will be divided longitudinally by the slitters. The slitter knives 7 are usually adjustable transversely and the spray gun may conveniently be attached to the slitter knife mountings so that the correct relation between the sprayed mark and the longitudinal cut in the Web is always maintained. The arrangement is such that when the predetermined number of sheets have been counted, the relay 17a is energised which closes a circuit including the solenoid 23 and the contacts 15 and operates the spray gun to apply a mark to the underside of the web, the length of the mark being determined by the time that the solenoid circuit remains energised. It is found convenient to provide a mark having a length equal to about one tenth of the distance between successive cross cuts of the web, and about one sixteenth of an inch wide, but these dimensions can clearly be widely varied. Preferably the mark is placed so that it lies half-way between the ends of the cut sheet, this being determined by suitable adjustment of the controlling contacts. It will be understood that the contacts 15 determine the closing of the solenoid circuit, and by suitably advancing or retarding the operation of these contacts by angular adjustment of the cam 12 on its shaft the mark can be positioned as required. Figure 4 shows the position of the mark 33 on the web in relation to the position of the subsequent transverse cuts 34, and Figure shows the sheets subsequently cut from the web and each bearing a mark 35 on its longitudinal edge. These marks are shown enlarged for clearness, and are preferably of smaller dimensions as indicated above.

Where the web being cut is of a relatively non-absorbent material, such as waxed or varnished paper for example, the ink or pigment will not be absorbed and may be still wet when the mark reaches the feeding rolls 2, 3 which are usually rubber covered. In this way some ink or pigment may be imparted to the surface of the rolls and produce additional marks on other sheets. To avoid this a roll or beam 36 covered with absorbent material such as felt is arranged across the full width of the web immediately following the spray gun or guns. This roll or beam is arranged so that it can be moved upwardly into contact with the underside of the web by energising a solenoid or electro-magnetic device 37 which is connected by a line 38 to the line 25 and by a line 39 to the bus bar 40, the latter being connected to the line 19. The solenoid or device 37 will therefore be energised when the spray gun is operated and will cause the roll or beam 36 to absorb or wipe off any surplus ink or pigment. If necessary, means may be provided for retarding the return of the solenoid or of the member 36. Alternatively, a suitable absorbent pad may be combined with the spray gun unit.

After the stacked sheets have been removed from the apparatus, it is usual for attendants to separate or fanup the edges of the sheets, and such operation immediately reveals the marks, so that separation of the stack into reams is readily effected. 1

Where the web is divided longitudinally by slitters at two or more points to afford three or more subdivided webs, additional spray guns and operating solenoids are provided to mark the webs along the lines of longitudinal dIIIVISlOH and suitable circuits are provided for actuating t em.

The marks may be applied to the webs or sheets at other positions if desired, as for example after the web has been slit longitudinally and, if preferred, to the cut sheets either before or after they have been stacked. Also the marks may be applied either to the upper or lower side of the webs or sheets. In applying the invention to the marking of relatively thick material, such as cardboard, it is advantageous to apply the marks after the web has been slit, for example by positioning the spray gun or guns between the longitudinal slitters and the rotary knife. to penetrate the slit in the web so that the edges are With such an arrangement, the ink is able 4 marked and the marks are consequently more readily visible from the side of the stack.

Instead of operating the counting means from the rotary or other cutter as previously described, a photoelectric device may be arranged across the path of the cut sheets .to send an impulse to the counter with the passage of each sheet.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the example described, but may be applied to widely different forms of sheet cutter. Thus the cutter need not be of the rotary type but may be a guillotine or other cutter. Also different kinds of ink or other pigment material may be employed for marking, according to circumstances. One possibility is to employ a fluorescent ink invisible in normal lighting conditions but clearly apparent when illuminated by a light source of suitable character containing for example a large amount of ultraviolet rays. The invention provides a convenient means of marking cut sheets which is readily adaptable to different forms and arrangements of sheet cutters and which by reason of the simplicity of the mechanism required can be employed with great advantage where high speeds of operation are desired.

I claim:

1. The combination with a cross cutting mechanism for cutting sheets from a travelling web, of spray gun means controllable to apply a spray of marking medium which appears as a mark at the edge of a cut sheet, electrically operated counting means including means for closing a circuit after a predetermined number of counts, electromagnetic means in said circuit for operating the spray gun means when the circuit is closed, contact making means in said circuit actuated by the cross cutting mechanism when a sheet is cut, and further contact making means actuated by the cross cutting mechanism to cause a counting impulse to be sent to the counter at each cutting operation.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising means for longitudinally slitting the web before severing sheets therefrom, and in which the spray gun means is controllable to apply a spray of marking medium to a web area concentrated about a line of subsequent slitting.

3. The combination according to claim 1, in which the first said contact making means is closed by cam means on the shaft of a rotary cutter of the cross cutting mechanism.

4. The combination according to claim 1 comprising apertured shroud means for concentrating the spray of the spray gun means so that the applied mark is of restricted width.

5. The combination according to claim 1, comprising means for removing surplus marking medium from the web.

6. The combination according to claim 1, comprising means including an absorbent medium for removing surplus marking medium from the web.

7. The combination according to claim 1, comprising a displaceable absorbent member actuated when the spray gun means is actuated to remove surplus marking medium from the web.

8. The combination according to claim 1, comprising means for removing surplus marking medium frornthe web, and electromagnetic means for actuating said means, said electromagnetic means having an energising circuit controlled by the counting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,599 Schoop Feb. 19, 1918 1,571,811 Smith Feb. 2, 1926 1,628,305 Cannard May 10, 1927 1,696,999 Cannon Ian. 1, 1929 2,456,009 McLane Dec. 14, 1948 

